“You really think she’d cooperate?”
“I do. After she visited last summer, we both wished each other happiness. I would do this for her if she asked, but that’s another thing that will make this a little easier. She’s not Catholic and we were married before a justice of the peace. With the new guidelines, I could have the annulment in a few months.
“I want you to know upfront that I’d marry you tomorrow if I could and we’d be sharing everything, including our beds. But, I rushed into marriage once before. I want to make sure I know everything about you and you know everything about me. I want this to be totally right, Caprice.”
“You’d be willing to wait to get married . . . to have sex?” There, she’d said it.
“I would see this engagement as a very special time for us. The two of us would make a vow to hold back physically, but not in any other way. We’d get to know each other on levels couples only dream about. And when the time for our marriage comes, we’ll have no doubts. We’ll be prepared for a partnership that will last a lifetime.”
She gently ran her finger down his cheek. “You’d do all of this for me?”
“I’d do this for us.”
“You’ve put a lot of thought into it.”
“I have. And now I want you to think about it too. We’ll make this decision together.”
As Grant took Caprice in his arms again, she knew they’d make all their decisions together from now on.
Chapter Fifteen
Caprice felt as if she were floating on a cloud the next morning as she ran errands. She kept touching the ring on her finger, holding it up to the light, admiring its beauty and the meaning behind it. Over and over, she thought about Grant’s proposal and the future ahead of them. She couldn’t be any happier. Maybe she could be happier if they were getting married tomorrow, but good things come to those who wait, right?
She thought about the decision they’d come to—wait to get married, to physically connect in that most intimate way. They could do it, she was sure. They could make this engagement one of discovery and adventure and the anticipation that would culminate in the very best way—in a church, before all their friends and family, with vows that would last forever.
Speaking of family . . . Grant had called his parents last night to tell them the news. To his surprise, they’d agreed to fly to Kismet for a visit. His father would be calling the airline today to book their seats. It was exciting and a little scary to think about meeting Diane and Samuel Weatherford.
She’d called her mom first thing this morning before her mother left for school. Ecstatic herself, her parents had been excited too. She’d even talked to her dad and heard how much he admired Grant for asking for his blessing. She loved Grant even more for that, if that was possible, for including her family. That meant so much. She’d called Nana next, then Nikki and Bella and Vince and Roz. She couldn’t wait to see them all and share her joy in person. But all of her conversations had left her grateful for her family and friends. Her sisters and Roz wanted to see the ring as soon as possible. Her mom and dad had already seen it because Grant had shown it to them.
Trying to keep her mind on her errands, she mentally went over the list in her head of the items she needed from Grocery Fresh. Grant would be coming over for dinner tonight.
Once inside the market, Caprice thought of the roast that was cooking in her slow cooker. She’d pick up red-skin potatoes to make parsley potatoes and fresh green beans. She’d also buy enough Stayman apples for apple crisp. They were an old-time apple and not many farm markets carried them anymore. But Grocery Fresh stocked them and they were the best-tasting apple for cobbler and pies. It was a meal she knew Grant would enjoy.
She was choosing apples carefully and pushing them into a plastic bag when a woman drew her basket up next to Caprice’s.
“Miss De Luca, isn’t it?”
It was Penny Claussen, Sebastian’s neighbor. “Hi, Penny. Please, call me Caprice.”
Penny nodded as if she’d be glad to. “I see we’re both apple shopping,” she said conversationally, as she too started choosing Stayman apples.
“I’m making apple cobbler tonight, how about you?”
“Actually, I’ll be stirring up applesauce. Our family likes homemade, so does Carly and her daughter.”
“I was just wondering, do you share your meals?”
“As often as we can. The girls are involved in different activities, so sometimes it’s tough. But the neighborhood as a whole believes sit-down meals are the best way to communicate and share the day.”
“My family always believed in that concept too. If my mom could pull us together for family dinner, she did. We still get together once a month.”
“If more families did that, maybe none of us would have as many problems. More talk and sharing and less TV and video games.”
Caprice was about to turn away and go on her way when Penny stopped her with a lowered voice and the question, “Are you still looking for information concerning Wendy?”
Caprice glanced around and no one was in their immediate vicinity. “Yes, I am. Have you heard something you think is important?”
Keeping her voice lowered, Penny said, “I was wrong about Wendy seeing someone. At least I think I was. I should have known she wouldn’t do that to Sebastian.”
“Why do you think you were wrong?”
“Because word around the neighborhood is that Sebastian is seeing someone already.”
“Any inkling who that someone is?”
“Yes, and I’m absolutely aghast. It’s Lizbeth Diviney.”
Caprice didn’t know if she was aghast, but she was a little shocked. “Do you believe this is more than gossip?”
“First of all, I don’t think anyone would gossip about something like this—about Sebastian so soon after Wendy’s death. Pierson Raychek is quite conservative and doesn’t gossip at all. He claims he saw Sebastian and Lizbeth in the parking lot at the Purple Iris Bed and Breakfast. Their compromising embrace and kiss gave him the impression this wasn’t the first time. Poor Wendy. No wonder she was staying so late or overnight at Sunrise Tomorrow. If she knew what Sebastian was up to, she probably couldn’t stand sharing a bed with him. Who would blame her?”
“This is still conjecture,” Caprice reminded her.
“Maybe so, but the truth will come out. It always does.”
That was most likely the case. Caprice thought about Lizbeth, the way she seemed overwhelmed when she was a multitasker and high energy at heart. She thought about Sebastian and his show of grief. Were either of them capable of murder, either alone or together? Had Lizbeth asked her to look into Wendy’s murder to throw her off her scent? Was it possible Wendy had been seeing someone new too? Or, as Penny suspected, had Wendy been spending nights at the shelter because she and Sebastian weren’t as close as they once were?
So many questions, so many suspects. She was glad Penny had told her what she had. Caprice would be on the lookout for clues and signs that what she said was true. And if it was true, then maybe Brett Carstead should know. After thanking Penny again for the information and wishing her a good day, Caprice went to the register to check out. Were couples ever what they seemed?
She knew they could be. After all, she’d witnessed her mom and dad’s marriage since she’d been born. Her mom often told the story about how they’d met, how Nick De Luca was fixing the flashing on her parents’ chimney when she’d been home from college. He’d been shirtless and oh, so masculine, standing on that roof with his black hair blowing in the wind. Her parents had their ups and downs like any couple, but they were affectionate, best friends, partners, and still happy they were married to each other. She’d witnessed the same kind of bond with Nana and Papa Tony. Her grandfather’s barber shop had done well enough to support his family. He’d loved Nana with all his heart and that was so obvious whenever they were together. He’d been old school in many ways—both his parents and Nana’s parents had come to Americ
a as immigrants. He’d believed Nana shouldn’t work and should take care of their two sons and daughter. But Nana had opened his eyes to the fact that women could be equal partners. She’d helped him with bookwork for the shop and organized their personal finances. Nana was never one to take a backseat, although Papa Tony had believed he was the one in charge. Nana had been the heart of their family and he’d known it. After he died, they’d all worried about Nana. When she’d moved in with Caprice’s parents, it had been a good decision for everyone.
Yes, couples could marry and last. They could overcome problems like Bella and Joe had. She had to remember all this when she became anxious about marrying and joining two very different lives.
For the rest of the day, Caprice concentrated on her next house staging, Tuscan Dreams. She wore a smile bigger than she’d ever worn before when she’d shown her ring to Dulcina, Isaac, her family, and anyone else who wanted to see it. She also thought about Wendy’s murder . . . a lot.
* * *
On Saturday morning she received a call from Grant. His parents had booked a flight because they’d found an economical last-minute deal. They were flying in on Tuesday! That was sooner than she’d expected. Grant too. To calm restlessness at the idea of getting along with in-laws, she spent her morning at Ralph’s Rentals choosing furniture she felt would go along with rustic Tuscan flavor. Ralph assured her everything could be delivered to the property on Monday. She’d found a console with mirrored doors in distressed pale green, a kitchen island in that same green with posts, a shelf, and a butcher block surface. She’d chosen a double pedestal table with bulb legs and a beautiful walnut top as well as Solvie armchairs with acorn finial accents. She’d even stumbled across barstools with rush seats, an armoire with antique brass hardware, and a locking cabinet that would be perfect in one of the bedrooms. Side tables in pale yellow, a lingerie chest, and a secretary desk painted with grapes and vines along with a Palladian open bookcase suggested visions of vineyards.
She intended to replace the chandelier in the main hall with one that looked like a globe in a metal design. Four candle-style lights burned within the globe. Checking her list of necessities, she picked out buffet lights as well as a marble table lamp with a square parchment shade.
She’d done well this morning, and she was sure Juan would approve of everything she’d rented. While she’d selected furnishings, he’d driven to her storage unit with a second list, pulling out items to transport to the house. They’d meet up there Monday to consult. Although the house had embellishments and dormers reminiscent of a Cupertino castle, Caprice hoped to create a welcoming interior that was warm and inviting and could wrap around a family.
Pleased with what she’d accomplished, she headed for Perky Paws. She’d bring home treats for Lady and Patches, and organic catnip for her felines. Thinking about Grant coming over for dinner again tonight gave her that anticipatory thrill that made her heart beat faster. At some point they’d have to start making specific plans. Maybe when his parents arrived on Tuesday, they’d talk over plans with them too. Even though she was anxious about it, she looked forward to all of it.
On a Saturday, Perky Paws was busy all day. Folks were lined up at the cashier’s desk. Gretta and her part-time help had their hands full, so Caprice wandered to the back of the store to pick up the catnip first. She was passing the dog food row when she caught sight of Sebastian’s son Kevin.
“Hi there,” Caprice said.
Kevin’s dog came right over to her, sat at her feet, and looked up at her. Caprice laughed, petted Dover’s neck, and scratched around his ears. Everything Penny had related about Sebastian came roaring back, and she wondered if any of it was true. Just gossip, or had he been having an affair before Wendy was killed?
A bag of dog food in his arms, Kevin crossed to her.
“How are you?” she asked him.
He gave her one of those teenage, one-shoulder shrugs. “Okay. Dad had to go to the hardware store so he dropped me here so I could pick up dog food.”
“I’ve been thinking about your family. Is there anything you need?”
Kevin’s eyes glistened a little and he shook his head. “Nope, we’re just trying to pretend everything’s okay when it’s not.”
“I’m sorry. Can you talk about how you feel with your brother and your dad?”
“Not so much because they feel bad too.”
“Is there anyone else you can talk to?”
“Yeah, Penny understands. She’s been bringing over lots of casseroles.”
He set the bag of dog food down on the floor. “I was thinking about you yesterday.”
“Uh oh,” Caprice joked. “Was that good or bad?”
That brought a weak smile. “Good, I guess. I lost my password list that I keep on a sticky note.”
“You know that’s not the safest place to keep them, right?”
This time he gave her a wry grin. “Yeah, Cody and Dad warned me about that. Anyway, I couldn’t find it, and it’s really important. I have a different password for each game I play and other sites I’m in and out of. So I was really stuck. Even Dad and Cody looked all over for the sticky note and they couldn’t find it either. I thought maybe Dover ate it.”
“That’s been known to happen,” Caprice said, understanding.
“Anyway, I rode my bike to that shrine I told you about on the Wyatt estate, and I prayed to Saint Anthony. Last night, I found the sticky note attached to one of my sweatshirts. Praying to Saint Anthony works!”
“I’m glad. Now you don’t have to make up new passwords for all those sites.”
He nodded and looked as if he wanted to say something else, so Caprice just stood there and waited. While his dog wagged his tail on Caprice’s foot, Kevin finally admitted, “I know something and I don’t know if I should tell Dad.”
“What do you mean you know something?”
“About Wendy.”
Caprice hoped with all her heart that Kevin hadn’t discovered Wendy was having an affair. She didn’t want his ideals shattered this early.
“Do you want to tell me?”
He nodded again. “The night before Wendy was found murdered, I was riding my bike to the Wyatt estate and I stopped in to see if she was there.”
Caprice gave Kevin her full attention now. This could be vitally important to the investigation. “Did you find her?”
“After I went inside, I overheard her and Rena arguing. You know, Rena from Sunrise Tomorrow?”
“I’ve met her,” Caprice said.
Now that he’d started telling her, it seemed that he wanted to get it all out. “They were shouting at each other.”
“Did you hear any of the conversation?”
He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. “The only thing I really heard that I could understand was the word embezzlement.”
Embezzlement. That had nothing to do with an affair or even blackmail. Or did it?
“I didn’t tell my dad because I didn’t think much of it until the next day when I learned Wendy was dead. Since she and Rena were fighting, I just left and she never knew I was there.”
Deciding exactly what she should do, and what Kevin should do, she advised the teenager, “You have to tell your dad. I’ll call Detective Carstead and tell him you have information that could be important to the investigation. But he’ll contact your dad to talk to you. So you have to tell him.”
“Are you sure it’s going to be Detective Carstead and not Detective Jones? He was a grouch.”
“I’ve been interviewed by both of them and I know what you mean. I’ll make sure Detective Carstead talks to you. I have his number and he usually listens to what I have to say.” At least lately, she mentally added.
“Thanks for telling me this, Kevin. It could be really important.”
“I’ll talk to Dad as soon as he comes in.”
She nodded and impulsively gave the teenager a hug. “You take care of yourself.”
He mumbled, “I w
ill,” into her shoulder.
As Caprice left him gathering up the dog food, she thought about what he’d said. If Rena had embezzled money from the foundation and was found out, could she have killed Wendy?
* * *
On Sunday morning, Caprice woke up groggily, thinking about the kiss Grant had given her before he’d left the night before. Could they really wait a few months? It might even be six months until the annulment came through and they could plan the wedding.
Lady climbed out of her bed on the floor and stretched, then put her paws up on the bed. Mirabelle had arranged herself across Caprice’s lap on top of the covers like a furry pillow. Sophia’s meow came from atop the chest where she looked down at Caprice with chastisement in her gaze.
You slept later than usual, it seemed to say. Don’t you realize we’re on a schedule?
Caprice gave a little laugh, moved Mirabelle to the side gently, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Lady sat on her foot for a few rubs of her own. Caprice was bending down to her when her cell phone on the bedside table played the Beatles’ “If I Fell.” Picking it up, she saw Sunrise Tomorrow’s ID. How odd for someone to call from there this early on a Sunday morning.
“Hello?” she asked, not knowing what to expect.
“Caprice, it’s Lizbeth.” There was panic in the woman’s voice.
“Hi, Lizbeth. What’s going on?”
“The police took Rena in for questioning. She was supposed to be here manning the desk this morning, and she called me to tell me she couldn’t take her shift. I don’t know what’s going on. She wouldn’t say why they took her in.”
Caprice knew why they’d taken her in for questioning. That phone call to Brett had started the ball rolling.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Lizbeth asked.
“I might, but I shouldn’t say.”
“Caprice, I have to know what the situation is. She’s here every day, and if I have to find someone to replace her—”
Shades of Wrath Page 20